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Some 267 households who are now self-sufficient graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) held in the Bohol Cultural Center, Tagbilaran City, on September 16, 2022.

The 4Ps graduation ceremony was conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7) and attended by the three (3) Bohol district representatives, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado was ably represented by his wife, 2nd District Representative Maria Vanessa Aumentado, local government units headed by the local chief executives, partner national government agencies, and civil society organizations.

DSWD gives the sertipiko ng pagkilala’ to the 267 4Ps graduates. The certificates were handed in by (from left to right) Assistant Secretary Florentino Loyola Jr., Assistant Secretary Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, Undersecretary Jerico Francis Javier, 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto, 2nd District Representative Ma. Vanessa Aumentado, 3rd District Representative Kristine Alexie Besas-Tutor, Director Gemma Gabuya, and Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

The 267 graduates are already self-sufficient or level 3 based on the Social Welfare Development Indicator (SWDI) conducted by the DSWD.

To be considered a self-sufficient household, the beneficiary should have sustained income at the time of graduation, and be able to cope with their daily needs.

The 267 4Ps graduates come from the 25 local government units of Bohol, namely; Alburquerque, Alicia, Anda, Baclayon, Batuan, Bien Unido, Bilar, Candijay, Dauis, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Mabini, Panglao, Pilar, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Sierra Bullones, Ubay, and Valencia.

“Dako namong kalipay ug pasalamat nga naapil ang among pamilya sa 4Ps. Niadtong tuig 2013, first time ko nga nakadawat sa cash grant sa 4Ps ug nagkantidad og 2,200 pesos kini ug dako gayod ang among kalipay kay nakapalit dayon kami og bag-ong school uniform ug school bag para sa duha nakong anak nga mga estudyante (We are happy and grateful that our family is included in 4Ps. In 2013, we were able to receive our first cash grant in 4Ps worth Php 2,200 and we were happy because we immediately bought new school uniforms and school bags for our two children who are students),” said Lucia Cuñado, from Barangay San Jose, Mabini, during her testimony in the graduation ceremony.

She added that she prioritized the use of the cash grants intended to support her children’s education.

In his keynote message, DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Group Jerico Francis Javier congratulated the 4Ps graduates for their families’ improved well-being through the intervention of the program.

“Ang pagsasama natin na ito ay isang malaking selebrasyon at pagdiriwang sa pagbabagong natamasa ng ating mga benepisyaryo sa ilalim ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4Ps partikular dito sa probinsya ng Bohol (This gathering is a big celebration because of the changes that our beneficiaries felt under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Bohol Province),” said Usec. Javier.

He cited the convergence efforts of the different national government agencies, local government units, and civil society organizations in alleviating the quality of life of the 4Ps households.

Lucia Cuñado, a 4Ps graduate from Mabini, Bohol, shares her testimony of change during the 4Ps graduation ceremony.

“Ako po ay lubos na umaasa na sa paglisan ninyo sa programa, ipagpapatuloy ninyo ang pagbabagong nakamtan ng inyong pamilya at maging kaagapay ng pamahalaan sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa (I hope that when you exit from the program, you will be able to sustain the changes that your family has achieved and become a partner of the government for the development of the country),” he added.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, during the presentation of the 267 4Ps graduates, emphasized their achievement in which 47 monitored children are already college graduates; 37 monitored children are now employed in various government agencies; some 4Ps parent leaders also became barangay councilors, and others are working in non-government organizations.

Usec. Javier led the distribution of “sertipiko ng pagkilala” to the 267 4Ps graduates. He was accompanied onstage by Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Loyola Jr., Assistant Secretary for Visayas Affairs Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, National Program Manager of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Director Gemma Gabuya, Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, Bohol 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto, 2nd District Representative Maria Vanessa Aumentado, and 3rd District Representative Kristine Alexie Besas-Tutor.

After the ceremonial turn-over of 4Ps households’ case folders, Mabini Municipal Mayor Ongie Bernales-Lim pledged to have an after-care monitoring program for the 4Ps graduates as part of the sustainability plan.

In the afternoon, DSWD-7 conducted the 4Ps Partnership Summit with the goal of strengthening the collaboration and gaining commitments from different partner stakeholders to continue supporting the program.

Various partners and stakeholders sign the commitment tarpaulin to show their support for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

As part of the partner’s commitment, the 4Ps graduates will be automatically enrolled in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Municipality of Candijay and the Department of Education also shared their respective good practices in the implementation of the program.

The 4Ps is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor eligible households. These, with the psychosocial and educational components provided through the Family Development Session (FDS), lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. ###

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